Bitcoin

Zach Harvey, right, and Matt Whitlock created this ATM that accepts dollar bills and instantly converts them to the alternative Bitcoin currency. (Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET) NASHUA, N.H. -- Zach Harvey has an ambitious plan to accelerate adoption of the Internet's favorite alternative currency: installing in thousands of bars, restaurants, and grocery stores ATMs that will let you buy Bitcoins anonymously. It's the opposite of a traditional automated teller that dispenses currency. Instead, these Bitcoin ATMs will accept dollar bills -- using the same validation mechanism as vending machines -- and instantly convert the amount to Bitcoins and deposit the result in your account. "It's even easier than just using a regular ATM," says Harvey, 33, who demonstrated the device to CNET this weekend at the Free State Project 's annual Liberty Forum . "You could probably do it ...